Coupling-head for pipe-lines.



H. 0. LLOYD-JONES. UPLING HEAD FOB PIPE LINE HORATIO OWEN LLOYD-JONES,OF WINNIPEG, MANITOBA, CANADA.

COUPLING-HEAD FOR PIPE-LINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 8, 1911.

Patented Oct. 31, 1911.

Serial No. 607,377.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HORATIO OWEN LLOYD JONES, of the city of lVinnipeg,in the Province of Manitoba, Canada, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Coupler-Heads for Pipe-Lines, of which thefollowing is the specification.

My invention relates to coupler heads for pipe lines for effectuallyconnecting the train line, the signal line, and the steam heating linein a train of cars, and the object of the invention is to provide aninexpensive, serviceable, and eflicient device which willantoiilatically couple and effect a direct inter connection between theseveral pairs of pipe lines of a train of cars, the joints between thepairs being retained closed under all working conditions whether thecars be on straight or curved portions of the track.

A further object of the invention is to provide a means which willprevent unnecessary wearing of the usual gaskets carried by the couplerheads and located at the points where the pairs of pipes come togetherso that the possibility of leakages at the joints is reduced to aminimum.

With these and other objects in view as will become more apparent as thedescription proceeds, the invention consists essentially in thearrangement and construction of parts hereinafter more particularlydescribed and later pointed out in the appended claim.

Referring to the drawing, Figure 1 represents a plan view of two of mycoupler heads engaged. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of one of the couplerheads. Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view through one of my couplerheads. Fig. 4: is an end view of the same.

In the drawing like characters of reference indicate corresponding partsin each figure.

The present invention relates to an improvement in the form of couplerheads described and claimed in my co-pending application, Serial Number1565459, Canada, and 57 9094, United States, for improvements inpipe-line couplers, wherein the connections of the heads to the car andof the pipe lines to the heads are fully detailed. I have considered itunnecessary in this present application to show anything further thanthe detailed construction of the heads and their pivoted connection withthe shanks as therein resides the invention in this instance.

1 and 2 represent suitable shanks carrying i engaging heads 3 which areconstructed as now described. The heads comprise each a body portion 1constructed with a tapering jaw 5 and carrying an open mouthed orflaring guard 6, the jaw and guard being set more or less at rightangles to each other as shown best in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawing.

Ducts 7 8 and 9 are located in the heads, which ducts communicate withthe train line, the signal line, and the steam heating line of the trainRubber or such like gaskets 10 are fitted 0r sunk in the heads in theusual way at the ends of the ducts, the gaskets carried by one headbeing engageable with the gaskets carried by the other head when theheads are brought together. The guards 6 have a rectangular opening 6formed therein at the back and are flared outwardly at the top,

bottom and side so as to receive and direct the offset extremities 11 ofthe jaws into and through the opening 6 when the two heads engage. Iwish to draw particular attention to the offset extremities 11 of thejaws as they serve the important function of keeping the gaskets intact,that is, they prevent the gaskets from being rubbed or curled therebyallowing leakage of air from the pipe lines. The heads are held in theirnormal position by springs 12 carried by the shanks and engaging therear face of the heads. The springs may become weakened in time or maybe of different strengths so that there is the possibility of a head inthe normal position engaging with a head which is turned slightly fromthe normal position. In a case such as this the extremity 11 of the jawof the head which is in the irregular position will engage with theopposing face of the jaw of the opposite head and slide over it untilthe heads are finally engaged and in so doing will prevent the gasketsfrom rubbing or coming in contact prematurely. The gasket-s are alsoprevented from being rubbed and curled when the heads part coupling asthe bodies of the heads ride back on the extremities of the jaws so thatthe gaskets are parted quickly. It is of course to be understood wheretwo heads engage under normal conditions that the extremity of each jawrides on the adjoining face of the guard on the opposite jaw, themovement of the heads when engaging being restricted by the outer edgesof the jaws engaging with the backs of the guards, the extremities ofthe jaws jamming into the opening 6 as far as they are permitted owingto the tapered form of the jaw.

The shanks 1 and 2 have their ends bifurcated or forked at 13 to formbearings 14: which receive a bolt 15, the bolt in turn passing throughthe body of the head and supporting it pivotally. The bolt is retainedin position by any suitable means such as a pin 16.

From the above construction it will be seen that where cars are equippedwith heads such as mine that it is impossible for the jaws to or passout of contact once the cars are coupled together as any quick turn orother such irregular movement of the cars is taken up in the pivotalconnection between the shank and the jaw.

lVhat I claim as my invention is:

The combination with a suitably supported shank having a forked end, ofa head pivotally secured near its apex to the forked end of the shankand provided with a tapering jaw having an off-set extremity, and aflaring guard located substantially at right angles to the jaw, saidguard being provided with a substantially rectangular opening, the headhaving suitable duct-s therein, as and for the purpose specified.

Signed at Winnipeg in the Province of Manitoba, this 29th day ofNovember, 1910.

HORA'llO OWEN LLOYD-JONES.

In the presence of G. S. ROXBURGH, J. K. ELKIN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). C.

